FY 10-11 Budget and Employee Impacts

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March 24, 2010

To: All Faculty and Staff

From: President Jon Whitmore

As we approach the end of the fiscal year, I want to update you
on where we are today with the budget and what our immediate future
looks like.

In fiscal year 2010-2011, we expect to face the same difficult
circumstances that have proven so challenging over the last year.
As we have been discussing throughout the year, we had to close a
$44 million budget gap in FY 2009-2010. By making budget reductions
across all areas of the university, including eliminating many
vacant positions, reducing operating budgets, implementing employee
furloughs, and raising student fees, we have largely (although not
entirely) avoided layoffs of employees up to this point.

This year, we absorbed $19 million of our budget reduction
through furloughs. However, we have recognized from the beginning
that employees on furlough would not be a permanent solution to our
situation. The unpleasant fact is that we must adjust our
operations permanently, reducing both our student body and our
staffing to fit our shrinking resources.

As I first mentioned in my Fall 2009 Address, layoffs are a part
of our planning for next fiscal year. And while the overall number
of layoffs is expected to be limited, we all will most certainly
feel the impact. On a practical level, having fewer employees to
share the campus workload will present real challenges.
Emotionally, having to see colleagues depart will be difficult for
each and every one of us. Logistically, the impacts of layoffs will
require flexibility, cooperation, and patience, as staff resources
are redistributed according to the provisions of the respective
union contracts. And most important, of course, is the difficulty
ahead for individuals who will be directly impacted by the
layoffs.

The decisions about positions this action will affect and when
any action will take place have not been finalized. Once a plan has
been developed, it must be approved by the Chancellor's Office and
then reviewed by our union groups. I am sharing this information
with you now because I am committed to being as open and
transparent about the situation as possible -- and I promise to
continue to update you as new information becomes available.

In the meantime, I want to reiterate my thanks and appreciation
for the passion, commitment, and patience with which you do your
work in these challenging times.